Iamblichus Alchemista, Fragmentum alchemica

ΙΑΜΒΛΙΧΟΥ ΚΑΤΑΒΑΦΗ. – Ἁλὸς καππαδοκικοῦ δραχμαὶ β'· κινναδάρεως ἰταλικῆς γ° ἥμισυ· ἀρσενικοῦ γ° α'· χαλκίτεως ὀπτῆς δρ. ϛ'· σιδήρου σκόληος, ὅ ἐστιν λεπίδες ὤχρας γρ. ϛ'. Tινὲς δὲ σιδηροχάλκου βάλλουσιν δρ. ιβ'· σποδίου γ° ἥμισυ· ἰοῦ γ° γ'· χρυσοκόλλης δρ. ϛ'· κατμίας θρακικῆς γ° ἥμισυ· λειοτριβήσας ἰδίᾳ, καὶ ὁμοῦ μίξεις· πρόσβαλε μανδραγόρου χυλὸν ἕως γένηται γλοιοῦ πάχος, καὶ τρίβε ἕως ξηρανθῇ· καὶ πρόσβαλε αἷμα λαγωοῦ θαλασσίου, ἕως γένηται πάλιν γλοιοῦ πάχος· και τίθει (f. 266 v.) ἐν καλάμῳ ζῶντι ἐς τὸν τέταρτον κόνδυλον, καὶ φιμώσας ἑρείῳ ῥάκκει, ἔα ἐπὶ ἡμέρας ιδ'· καὶ λαβὼν εὑρήσεις σίδηρον. Τοῦτον τρίψον μετὰ οἴνου εὐώδους, ἕως γένηται γλοιοῦ πάχος· καὶ ἔχε ἐν κόγχῳ. Εἶτα χωνεύσας τὸ ἴσον χρυσὸν καθαρὸν, καὶ ἐπίβαλε τὰ ἐν τῷ κόγχῳ· καὶ χώνευσον ἕως καπνὸν μὴ ἰσχύῃ, ποιῇ δὲ ὀσμὴν θείου· καὶ ἐξελὼν ψύγε.

THE KATABAPHĒ [DYEING] OF IAMBLICHUS. – Cappadocian salt, 2 drachmas; Italian cinnabar, half an ounce; arsenikon [orpiment], 1 ounce; roasted chalcitis, 6 dr.; iron scolex, that is, flakes of ochre, 6 grammata. Some put in iron-copper, 12 dr.; spodium, half an ounce; verdigris, 3 ounces; chrysocolla, 6 dr.; Thracian cadmia, half an ounce. Having ground [them] separately, you will also mix them together; add mandrake juice until it reaches the thickness of oily sludge, and grind until it dries; and add the blood of a sea hare until it again reaches the thickness of oily sludge; and place it (f. 266 v.) in a living reed, at the fourth joint, and having stopped it with a woollen rag, leave it for 14 days; and when you take it you will find iron. Grind this with fragrant wine until it reaches the thickness of oily sludge, and keep it in a shell. Then melt an equal amount of pure gold and throw on the contents of the shell; and melt until it can no longer give off smoke but makes a smell of sulphur; and take it out and let it cool.